24 – Mysterious Ways
Mark 7:31-37
Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Difficult Words
- Speech Impediment: A physical defect that prevents normal speech
Question 1
Have you ever heard someone tell how they became a Christian?
Question 2
Why do you think that everyone’s story is different?
It is always wonderful to hear someone explaining how they have come to believe in Jesus Christ. It is strange to think that every story is the same in one way because it is the work of God in the heart of a person, and yet the exact experiences and events in the life of that person show that every story is different.
You couldn’t have a more different and wonderful example than the one we are going to look at today. The man was in an extraordinarily sad situation. He couldn’t hear other people speak, and he could hardly say anything to them. In the middle of this seemingly hopeless situation his friends lead him to the only one who is able to help him, Jesus of Nazareth. Some people had been healed just by touching his clothes. But that is not what happens this time. Jesus takes the man to one side and does something which seems very strange to us – he puts his fingers in the man’s ears and then puts a little bit of spit on his tongue. Then he tells the ears and tongue of the man to open, and that is what immediately happens.
There was no need for Jesus to do these things. But because in truth the only thing the man could do was to see, Jesus made him better in a remarkable, visible way. Jesus looked to heaven while he did these things, to show clearly to the man and to everyone else that he was helping this man in God’s strength. It is striking to note the fact that Jesus sighs as he sees the way that the sin of this world results in people suffering.
There is nothing better than sharing your spiritual experience with other people. And this is what happens here. The first thing that the man wants to do with his tongue is to talk about that which Jesus has done. And his friends in the same way insist on talking about the good things Jesus has accomplished.
Question 3
Jesus sighed when healing the man. What does this show us?
Question 4
Are you keen to share your testimony?
Pray
that God will help you to see how much he has done for you and that he would help you to share your experience with other people.